Nintendo removing digital A/V output from GameCube

Nintendo cutting hardware costs a little too deep to make that $99 price point? This does not bode well for progressive scan support in future games...

No more removable nameplates on top of the disc drive either.

:mad:

From Game Science

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Nintendo // Gamecube and GBASP price drops, but at what cost?
17:03
Nintendo announced today a small drop in price for the Gamecube and Gameboy Advance SP in Japan, to tie in with new regulations regarding the display of consumption tax. Currently, the Gamecube is available for 14,000 yen, and the GBASP for 12,500 yen, excluding tax. From 22 April, the prices will remain the same but will include tax. Consumption tax is currently charged at 5%, but is likely to increase in the future.

Along with the price reduction, the Gamecube hardware is undergoing small modifications. The Digital AV output, used with D-cables for Progressive Scan, will be removed, and the ability to remove and change the "nameplate" will also be lost. Both changes are believed to be aimed at cutting the cost of manufacture to fit in with the drop in price.

Source: Nintendo

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Dumb

Though it wont really effect me at all because I have an older gamecube... and I don't plan on getting a progressive scan TV anytime soon. Still dumb though

They should leave the door open for people who still want support for their HDTV, if they had any brains, we wouldn't have to use another port for video in the first place.

Somebody at nintendo needs to be fired really really badly.

LOL.

Bit odd, but seeing how I don't have an HDTV, this would not affect me one way or another in choosing to buy a GameCube.

How many Gamecube games actually support Proscan currently? When the next generation of systems come out they all better display 720p & 1080i, with every game taking advantage of that. You can pick up a 30" HDTV for $800CDN now so it'll be the standard in a couple years time.

This is pathetic. Nintendo's stupid decisions baffle me.

Sounds like Nintendo hired some of Sega's old management to me...

Unfortunately it's not unprecedented. NES lost composite video when it was revised. SNES lost RGB when it was revised. Not like Sony hasn't done the same sort of thing with revisions of the PSone (s-video port, composite port, link) and PS2 (ilink).

Guess I'll have to buy a backup GCN before the next price drop after all.

Yeah, the SNES also was stripped of S-Video support when it was redesigned as the smaller, sleeker model. Which made it worthless to me... Nintendo's setting a bad precedent here; I don't care for cheaper hardware if it's inferior hardware.

But the PSOne was still capable of s-video via the multi port, wasn't it?

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Originally Posted by Teddman

But the PSOne was still capable of s-video via the multi port, wasn't it?

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Can't say definitively as I don't own one, but I believe that Sony's LCD is RGB, which would lead one to assume that s-video is also an option.

Of course, you can get composite video out of a top loading NES if you're willing to do a little soldering. Maybe the same will be true of the new GCN.

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Originally Posted by Norimake

Unfortunately it's not unprecedented. NES lost composite video when it was revised.

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This was like some sort of weird payback thing. The original famicom lacked composite, and the redesigned famicom gained composite. So they did the opposite with the NES.

This is the GameCube after all, most are probably hooked up to a 17", 10 year old, tv in little Bobby's room.

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Along with the price reduction, the Gamecube hardware is undergoing small modifications. The Digital AV output, used with D-cables for Progressive Scan, will be removed

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Small modification? SMALL MODIFICATION?! That's freakin' HUGE!

*Hugs his launch day Cube*
*would hug his progressive scan RGB monitor, but it's not in a case and doesn't want a leathal shock*

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Originally Posted by Johnny

How many Gamecube games actually support Proscan currently?

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Much more than half of them, including all 1st party games. Even small titles like Ikaruga have it. The only ones I can think of that don't have it in my personal collection are Monkey Ball 1, Re-Make, and Bloody Roar Extreme.

Thats pretty stupid decision.

The sad thing is, as much of a bad decision as it is, most of the gaming public dosen't care and aren't affected.

Kind of like SCEA's denying of games.

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Originally Posted by Teddman

But the PSOne was still capable of s-video via the multi port, wasn't it?

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You are correct sir!

Until I got my LCD screen, that's how I had my PSOne hooked up.

Way to go Nintendo, add to the idea that only little kids should be playing your system...

Seriously this is the single dumbest thing I've heard in a long time. I would NOT buy a system nowadays because of this fact alone. Any systems made today that are mostly 3-D based need to have HD support. I run my GC on VGA through my HDTV and it is simply breathtaking. If they are that hard up for money, then kill the system all together, this is pathetic, absolutely pathetic. Does this mean that the games will no longer support HD as well?

Honestly, if anything Nintendo and other game companies should be making all games 1080i compatible by now...not removing HD support. With HD costs coming down, you can get a 27 inch HD for 500 bucks now, there is no excuse for this.

Consider me dumbfounded.

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/board/i...ine=1079705045

Awesome.

this is so stupid. it's like they want us to hate them.

Bad move, but it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

the only thing i could think of is that the new models will be able to display interlaced and progressive signals from the same output. you know, like every other console. </naive>

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Bad move, but it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

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Too true

Dammit all.
I was looking forward to, one day, getting a nice HDTV and sitting down with Metroid Prime. Hopefully, my current 'Cube won't die before then.

That's really stupid, Nintendo.

Little kids don't care about Progressive Scan and all that techno mumbo jumbo. Little kids have SPOKEN! :D

Lame, but it's still easy to find model 1 NES and SNES units these days, so ...

Then again, they were more popular and weren't based on fragile optical drives.

What the fuck? That sucks ass. I'd like to say this doesn't affect me but...

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Originally Posted by Teddman

This does not bode well for progressive scan support in future games...

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Shit. The pro-scan support from 3rd parties is already bad enough as it is (well, compared to Xbox). I just feel sorry for anyone who buys the thing and has to take S-video as the best they can get.

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Originally Posted by ssbomberman

I would NOT buy a system nowadays because of this fact alone. Any systems made today that are mostly 3-D based need to have HD support. I run my GC on VGA through my HDTV and it is simply breathtaking. If they are that hard up for money, then kill the system all together, this is pathetic, absolutely pathetic.

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I don't want to come off like an ass, but you sound like JAPJAC.

You don't need an HDTV to enjoy the wonders of Progressive Scan. I assume all of you are browsing through a computer monitor.

And yes, more than half of the GC games support progressive scan. I thought it was even up to 80%

It is TRUE though, the general mass doesn't use Progressive Scan because they are not informed. Just look at this thread for starters.

Maybe I'm illiterate, but I'm not seeing where it says component/progressive support is being dropped. Since no one can actually buy Nintendo's digital cables, maybe this is a step in the right direction.

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The Digital AV output, used with D-cables for Progressive Scan, will be removed

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There it is.

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Originally Posted by ssbomberman

If they are that hard up for money, then kill the system all together, this is pathetic, absolutely pathetic.

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Um, you do realise that they were removing it to decrease the price right? It was simply done to make that $99 price point.

Still, why? Even if it costed an additional $2, I would rather them delay the price drop for a month or so and drop the price while not removing anything.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

Maybe I'm illiterate, but I'm not seeing where it says component/progressive support is being dropped. Since no one can actually buy Nintendo's digital cables, maybe this is a step in the right direction.

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You can order them off of their site or even call in for them. Rather easy, methinks.
...and there's always Monster's cables.

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

You can order them off of their site or even call in for them.

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..as opposed to just buying them in-store at Circuit City or Best Buy.

This doesn't affect me but it's sad nonetheless. Nintendo has become like an old clown who refuses to accept that his audience has grown up and doesn't find his antics as funny as they used to.

Pity.

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

You can order them off of their site or even call in for them. Rather easy, methinks.
...and there's always Monster's cables.

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Nintendo's component cables use a proprietary EEPROM chip. Monster doesn't have a component Gamecube cable because of this. You have to call Nintendo and order it from them.

Nintendo sucks.

Nintendo has the GC plus Digital AV cable set for anyone who wants digital AV output. The new model Gamecube isn't instead of, but rather in addition to... and only for Japan too at that. As usual, people are blowing anything that might shed any negative light on Nintendo way out of proportion....

http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/200...22801,0,0.html

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

Sounds like Nintendo hired some of Sega's old management to me...

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*zing*

In other news, most people who play games don't own HDTVs, so somehow I guess the only love lost is among those who had no love in the first place, and the anal-retentive.

Well this is poop. Last night I booted up FFCC without progressive scan accidentally and it was all blurry looking. So there's a chance latter Nintendo games will look worse than than early titles, good one Nintendo.

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Originally Posted by omfgninjas

Nintendo's component cables use a proprietary EEPROM chip. Monster doesn't have a component Gamecube cable because of this. You have to call Nintendo and order it from them.

Nintendo sucks.

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Well, shit.
In that respect, yes, yes they do.

LOL.

Burgundy was owned by Jemery.

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kill the system all together

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I wouldnt have a problem with this.

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Originally Posted by Hero

*zing*

In other news, most people who play games don't own HDTVs, so somehow I guess the only love lost is among those who had no love in the first place, and the anal-retentive.

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Yeah, there is absolutely no chance of someone keeping their GC for years, you know the way some people still play NES or SNES games. Eventually people will get better TV's, then they are up shit creek because they have a neutered GC. Just another reason for people to keep working on that GC emulator.

JM

Um, this shit is still Japan-only, so Hero's point is still valid until this is announced for U.S. systems.

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Originally Posted by JM

Yeah, there is absolutely no chance of someone keeping their GC for years, you know the way some people still play NES or SNES games. Eventually people will get better TV's, then they are up shit creek because they have a neutered GC. Just another reason for people to keep working on that GC emulator.

JM

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The people who still play NES and SNES games don't give much of a shit about graphics. As long as it isn't "ugly" like N64 games these days, it will be fine.

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Um, this shit is still Japan-only, so Hero's point is still valid until this is announced for U.S. systems.

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Thank goodness. If it does rear its ugly head here, I hope NOA will offer the standard GCN alongside the castrated version. If I didn't have the GCN already and had a choice of $149 for the current type system or $99 for the lame one- I'd pay the extra $50.

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Originally Posted by Damian79

The people who still play NES and SNES games don't give much of a shit about graphics.

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The issue is more about image quality than graphics. I'd rather play my SNES in s-video or RGB than RF, wouldn't you?

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Originally Posted by Jeremy

Um, this shit is still Japan-only, so Hero's point is still valid until this is announced for U.S. systems.

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Looks like it's confirmed to be going worldwide, according to Planet GameCube:

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UPDATE: Today, Planet GameCube spoke with with Nintendo of America representatives about this story. Company spokesperson Beth Llewelyn has confirmed that these hardware changes will apply to all versions of GameCube, around the world. Production of the new model is expected to begin in May, but it is unclear when the rollout will begin in specific regions. There are no plans to match the price drop outside of Japan.

Nintendo has determined that less than 1% of GameCube users have employed the output jack being removed in the new model. Because the hardware is selling at such a low pricepoint, the company decided to cut its manufacturing cost by removing this feature. Although we are not sure about the existence of a new component cable apparently planned for release in Japan, Nintendo of America has no plans for such a cable. Instead, the company will create a service whereby consumers who buy the new model may trade it in for the old model, if they desire the component video feature. The actual component cables must still be purchased separately (directly from Nintendo, as always). It is possible that this is the plan for Japan as well, and that the specifics were lost in our crude translation.

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So they are removing the digital port worldwide, they're just keeping some of the old systems on hand for those who want them. Doesn't look like they'll even continue making the original GameCubes though; they probably don't anticipate a high demand for them from the mainstream consumer.

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Originally Posted by jiji

The issue is more about image quality than graphics. I'd rather play my SNES in s-video or RGB than RF, wouldn't you?

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SNES, hell no. I need the blurring or he pixellation is WAY obvious. I may aswell play the games on emulator if I want sharp pictures.

Though that is just the for SNES and NES . I simply can't play the N64 games any more because of how blurry they are, but I prefer the GC display to be composite since the graphics tend to be simpler and thus the edges are far more obvious. The games with the better graphics, I just couldn't seem to like eg. Metroid Prime, Rogue Leader, RE.

Dear Nintendo:

Just become a third party already.

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Originally Posted by Wildkat

Dear Nintendo:

Just become a third party already.

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Yeah, look how successful it's been for Sega...

No, don't become a third party developer - get your head out your ass and make games that people want again instead of regressing in the face of new technology by making poor choices in hardware design.

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Originally Posted by Damian79

SNES, hell no. I need the blurring or he pixellation is WAY obvious. I may aswell play the games on emulator if I want sharp pictures.

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Come over here so my SNES and Genesis with their RGB hookups can kick you in the nuts. They look so much better in RGB it is nonsensical to say they'd be better of with RF.
:bang:

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Originally Posted by MVS

Bit odd, but seeing how I don't have an HDTV, this would not affect me one way or another in choosing to buy a GameCube.

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Originally Posted by Roufuss

The sad thing is, as much of a bad decision as it is, most of the gaming public dosen't care and aren't affected.

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Originally Posted by Hero

*zing*

In other news, most people who play games don't own HDTVs, so somehow I guess the only love lost is among those who had no love in the first place, and the anal-retentive.

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Yep.

I think they figured it didn't matter if it had it or not. I mean.. for the most part... it really doesn't. Probably makes the cube cheaper to make so yeah... what diffrence does it make. HDTV folk have Gamecubes and if they don't they probably weren't going to get one anyway.

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

Yeah, look how successful it's been for Sega...

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They're making money for the first time in years, although...

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No, don't become a third party developer - get your head out your ass and make games that people want again instead of regressing in the face of new technology by making poor choices in hardware design.

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I agree 100%.

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Originally Posted by Melf

I agree 100%.

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While Nintendo(Iwata) has said that Nintendo is going to make a console and sell it at $300 and not take the cheaper console strategy next gen, Nintendo's problems is not just the hardware.

Most EAD GC games lack a ton of polish, while bugs were very rare in the games on the N64 and back, their GC games have bugs galore and and much of them have pretty bad design flaws. IMO this comes from the increasing cost of game dev since their GBA games have been nothing but perfect. I hope Nintendo will realise that these days, you have to spend MORE money to make money.

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Originally Posted by Melf

They're making money for the first time in years, although...

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While their console business is still taking a loss. ;)

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Originally Posted by Johnny

I don't want to come off like an ass, but you sound like JAPJAC.

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I don't see why? I mean I'm an adult, I make my own money, I know technology is there, so why the f^&* do I want to play my GC in anything less than HD? It's not like I dropped a fortune on my HD set, it cost me like 700 bucks with extended warranty and nowadays you can get it for 500 or so. And most of my friends are on HD too, I mean it's not like it's a new thing.

But don't forget, this also means VGA support is gone gone gone. Honestly it's one of the major selling points of the system for me, same with Xbox...there a few great games and HD support.

I'm honestly surprised there's so little care on these boards in particular. I mean picture quality is everything. Yeah a great game is a great game, but I'm too old to be going back to substandard quality levels now. Either RGB or HD or nothing, it's as simple as that. The technology is there, so use it. You can get 20 inch RGB monitors for 60 bucks. My HDTV was the same freaking price as interlaced Sony sets of the same size. So don't come back and say, I don't have that kind of money. It's just about the research and interest in making games look as good as possible.

Let's reverse this and say what if the Xbox lost HD support? Would you guys at least care then? This is not elitism, geez, this is wanting to use what technology has to offer. I mean the DC had VGA support years ago, so why the hell can't I demand it for current systems? Besides, s-video blurs like a mofo on a HDTV set...

from magicbox:

UNCONFIRMED: Famitsu reported that Nintendo will release a new multi-out AV cable for GameCube, which supports progressive scan for the new model of GameCube, which will be on sale in Japan this spring.

Damn, epmode... I wanted to post that.
Ah, well. At least it's good news, assuming that the cable can be used for all regions.

problem is we'll all say oh what a dumb move, nintendo is t3h dumb roffle and all but really, your average consumer knows jack about hardware. They are not the savvy consumer. But nintendo is not being the savvy producer either.

"savvy" has way too many consecutive wedges. Sure, the final wedge has a tail but still...

Three in a row.
Unacceptable.

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Originally Posted by Cheebs

"savvy" has way too many consecutive wedges. Sure, the final wedge has a tail but still...

Three in a row.
Unacceptable.

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Savvy SAvvy savvy! :chunobi:

*cringes*

There's nothing wrong with the meaning or the pronounciation, but the visual composition of the spelling is awful. Gotta' do something about that...

savi?
savhy?
salvy?
saghvy?

"saghvy" seems acceptable. "savi" is alright too....

Wow that's fucking stupid.

Might buy another Gamecube in the near future just to have one with the port should my original breakdown... so I guess Nintendo has won.

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Originally Posted by NoFace

Wow that's fucking stupid.

Might buy another Gamecube in the near future just to have one with the port should my original breakdown... so I guess Nintendo has won.

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Originally Posted by epmode

from magicbox:

UNCONFIRMED: Famitsu reported that Nintendo will release a new multi-out AV cable for GameCube, which supports progressive scan for the new model of GameCube, which will be on sale in Japan this spring.

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